Improving heart failure supportive and palliative care. Version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Working in partnership with heart failure patients, and carers to improve end of life conversations and palliative care provision with clinicians.
IRAS ID
320970
Contact name
Amanda Farwell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Essex
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A,
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Heart failure patients experience palliative care inequalities (compared to those with a cancer diagnosis) at the end of their life. As a result they either do not receive the support they require or receive it too late and are unable to experience a 'good death'. In working collaboratively with a heart failure charity, heart failure patients and carers will be invited to share their supportive and palliative care experiences using online interviews with the chief investigator.
Participants will be heart failure patients who have a diagnosis of heart failure (including those with a reduced heart muscle pumping action, or the appearance of a normal pumping action but impairment in the heart’s ability to stretch and fill with blood), and carers that have experienced conversations with healthcare professionals advising them that their heart failure is enter the terminal phase. Enquiry into their palliative care provision will be sought which will provide an insight into how this aspect of care can be improved.
In utilising a Qualitative, participatory research approach participants will be equally involved with the research project from creation of the research question, data analysis and dissemination of the findings to healthcare professionals. Consultations with co-producers from a national heart failure charity have produced the proposed research questions, and decided the research methods to be used. Due to the current Covid risk, and potential frailty of these patients online interviews will be used. This will enable participants to identify a convenient time for the interviews to take place, reducing the risk of travel or worsening symptoms which may have a negative impact on their general health. The aim of this research will be to improve end of life care for heart failure patients and their carers.The research is due for completion in October 2023.
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
23/WA/0024
Date of REC Opinion
31 Jan 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion